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PCOS Awareness Month: Every year, September is observed as PCOS Awareness Month and is dedicated to raising awareness about polycystic ovary syndrome. PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a condition that some women experience because of hormone imbalances, where the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, the male s*x hormones that usually exist in small amounts in women.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact cause of PCOS is unknown. Early diagnosis and treatment along with weight loss may lower the risk of long-term complications such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Here are some risk factors of PCOS that can increase the risk of a woman being at a higher risk of developing PCOS.

Watch the video below about  home remedies for PCOS: 

Risk Factors Of PCOS

Insulin Resistance

Insulin is a hormone that the pancreas makes. It allows cells to use sugar, your body's primary energy supply. As per Mayo Clinic, too much insulin might cause your body to make too much of the male hormone androgen. You could have trouble with ovulation, the process where eggs are released from the ovary.

ALSO READ: PCOS Awareness Month 2023: 5 Effective Tips To Manage Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Genetics

PCOS can cause various changes within a female body (Image Credits: Freepik)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that PCOS is a multifactorial disease and is caused by several abnormalities. All genes/mutations that affect ovaries directly or indirectly are associated with PCOS. If your mother or sister has PCOS, then you are also likely to get diagnosed with it.

Excess Androgen

With PCOS, the ovaries may produce high levels of androgen. Having too much androgen interferes with ovulation. This means that eggs don't develop regularly and aren't released from the follicles where they develop. Excess androgen also can result in hirsutism and acne, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

High Levels Of Stress

Stress is an invisible factor that can raise the risk of developing PCOS in women. Women with high levels of stress experience excessive mood swings, and are more likely to develop anxiety and depression as well.

ALSO READ: PCOS Awareness Month 2023: 5 Common Blood Tests To Detect Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Detecting and understanding the symptoms can play a major role in diagnosis (Image Credits: Freepik)

Complications Of PCOS

- Infertility

- Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure

- Miscarriage or premature birth

- Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, is a severe liver inflammation caused by fat buildup in the liver

- Metabolic syndrome, is a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol or triglyceride levels that significantly increase your risk of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease

- Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes

- Sleep apnea

- Depression, anxiety and eating disorders

- Cancer of the uterine lining (endometrial cancer)

 

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)